Woods Brush Hog Clutch

A

AndrewSpencer

Active member
Howdy all!

I am now on my second new clutch for my belly mounted Woods Brush Hog Mower. Or up until last month, the greatest mower ever.

Long story short: I am 99% sure that the first clutch Woods sent me was used. Shame on them.
The second one looks new. And it worked like new. Actually it worked really well, right up until I dropped my 1953 Cub into second gear and I got about 10 feet then, the mower started slipping like it was running backwards. Now if I do any engine speed over 1/3 throttle the mower clutch is slipping.

The questions:
Does someone have a spec for the clutch spring? Relaxed height, compression load, etc?

The whole washers under the cap if it isn't ratcheting... Can someone explain how that is supposed to work? I have found that no washers under the cap has the same effect as 5 washers under the cap (or one or two...)

Any other thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Oh, also, I am mowing grass. My yard grass, not the amazon.

Thanks and I hope you all have an amazing weekend!!

Andrew
 
AndrewSpencer":1q1nv389 said:
the mower started slipping like it was running backwards. Now if I do any engine speed over 1/3 throttle the mower clutch is slipping.
Click to expand...

This might sound silly, but are you sure that the belt is on correctly? Spinning the deck in the proper rotation?

Take a moment and actually check the direction of the clutch engagement.

Does it lock up if spun the opposite direction?

Since the Cub pto is counter clockwise, and say a Super A is clockwise, there might be two different clutch assemblys if woods made a diffremt model 42 to work on the other tractors.

I have one of those woods 42" bush wacker style mowers.

Up until the time I broke the blades, I never knew, that someone before me put the blades on backwards.

I replaced the spring in mine as well long time ago, and seems like I did some welding and reshaping of the clutch or pawls. Cant remember for sure (without taking it apart),

I used to mow the grass with mine as well, plus stuff probably much bigger that it was made for!
 
I rebuilt 2 of those clutches, and, for the life of me, I never could figure out the "washer-under-the-cap" instructions! They just didn't seem to make sense... couldn't see how they did anything.

In any case, I DID play with the spring a bit...stretched it out a tad, I think. THAT did make a difference. Didn't take much. I tried it because mine worked fine after rebuilding it with new parts, until I hit some coarser grass & it started slipping again. After the spring adjustment, it seemed to work fine....that was several years ago.

Don't think I've ever seen specs on that spring, though. Good luck!
 
I agree with Dale. I also felt I had to stretch the spring. I also had to squeeze the base so it did not slip into the gap around the edge.

I also agree with you, the wood 42 is one of the best mowers for the cub.
 
Update:
The spring was at 2 1/2 inches.
Stretched it to 4 inches. Installed the assembly again. Still slipping took it apart.
Compressed spring is back to 3 1/2 inches.

Looked at the clutch mechanism. The replacement cap looks like they forgot to machine the ramps. They were very rough and kept a very high engagement angle. Fortunately, the first replacement cap they did machine the ramps and we had a much better area of engagement for the clutch.

Off to the races once again, and it looks like I have it! thanks again for everyones help!

Andrew
 
Not to hijack this thread or anything, but my 42 just suddenly went on the Fritz, too. It went from functioning normally to slipping at the slightest provocation over the course of less than an hour of mowing, so I am following this very closely as I get ready to tear into it.

Regarding the feeble strength of the spring involved: It seems like the spring is quite spread out. Ie, more open air than solid spring material. If pre-stretching the spring only gains a slight improvement in behavior, has anyone tried installing two springs? Not having actually been inside there yet, the diagrams make it seem like there would be room to accomplish this.

Is Messicks the best place for replacement parts? Those clutch bits are pricey. :shock:

Is it normal for the belt to jump off repeatedly and immediately when the ratchet starts slipping? I’m going to need a new belt now, aren’t I?

Is it normal for that center bolt on top of the pulley to just spin and spin without coming loose? Yes, I am holding the blades from turning and the ratchet is neither slipping, nor ratcheting. Doesn’t that go into the top end of the spindle? I figured I’d go for the four around the top of the pulley next.
 
Dale Finch":3anhfsah said:
I rebuilt 2 of those clutches, and, for the life of me, I never could figure out the "washer-under-the-cap" instructions! They just didn't seem to make sense... couldn't see how they did anything.
Click to expand...

Only thing I think they are there for is to tighten down the cap and not cave the center in.
Now my woods slips like everyone on here has been saying there problems are. Mine has really big washers and some how pinchs the clutch together so my woods will throw a belt before the clutch. Will work. I think im going to test some things on mine see if we can get this worked out.
I can't complain tho mine will cut kudzu up and never die or bog down
 
Sorry for not replying sooner. I do believe that a new spring will get you going. That said I have a new cap and well, here is a picture. Happy to send you any and all of it if you think it will help!
Andrew
 

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